If you’re thinking about going solar in British Columbia, you’ll hear the term net metering a lot. Net metering is one of the biggest financial benefits of going solar, it lets you use the grid like a battery. When your solar panels produce more electricity than your home needs, that extra power flows to the grid and you earn credits. When your solar panels produce more electricity than your home needs, that extra power flows to the grid and you earn credits. When your system isn’t producing enough (like at night or in winter), you draw electricity back from the grid and use those credits to offset the cost.
In short: solar + net metering = lower annual electricity bills and faster payback.
This guide explains net metering in general, and how it works for solar customers in BC. Your specific net metering program depends on which utility serves your home — BC Hydro in most of the province, and FortisBC in many southern interior communities.
What is net metering?
Net metering is a billing program that tracks the difference (“net”) between:
- electricity you take from the grid, and
- electricity your solar system sends to the grid.
Your smart meter measures inflow and outflow. If you export more energy than you use in a billing period, you build up a credit balance. Those credits roll forward and can be used later when your solar production is lower.
BC utilities are designed to help customers offset their own power use with clean energy like solar (not become full-time power producers).
How net metering works with solar (step-by-step)
- Solar panels generate electricity during the day.
- Your home uses that solar power first.
- Any extra energy flows to the grid.
- Your meter records the export and you receive generation credits.
- Later (even months later), you can draw from the grid and those credits help reduce your
bill.
Think of it like banking sunshine in the summer and spending it in the darker months.
Why net metering is so valuable for solar owners
Net metering is a key reason solar performs so well in BC:
- Lower bills year-round: summer surplus offsets winter use.
- Better ROI: credits are valued at your electricity rate through the year.
- No batteries required: the grid acts as your backup.
- Cleaner energy system: your excess solar helps supply local demand.
If you add battery storage later, net metering still applies — you just gain more control over how and when you export power.
Net metering depending on your utility
You don’t choose your net metering program — it’s determined by your location and the utility that serves your home. The good news is that both BC Hydro and FortisBC offer strong net metering options that support solar homeowners.
If your home is served by BC Hydro
BC Hydro’s net metering program is called Self-Generation. It credits you for surplus solar power you send to the grid, and lets you use those credits when your system produces less.
Key program points:
- Available for homes and businesses with renewable energy systems like solar.
- Systems are sized to offset your own annual electricity use.
- Any surplus you export becomes bill credits that roll forward through the year.
- Once per year, unused credits are paid out and your credit balance resets.
Solos handles the Self-Generation application and interconnection process as part of your solar install.
If your home is served by FortisBC
FortisBC offers a Net Metering Program that works very similarly: excess solar generation is credited and carried forward so you can use it later.
Key program points:
- Available for homes, businesses, and some agricultural/irrigation accounts with solar.
- Your system is designed to match your expected annual use.
- Surplus energy is tracked in a kilowatt-hour bank that offsets future bills.
- The bank is settled annually, and your credits reset after settlement.
Solos manages the net metering application, approvals, and utility coordination for FortisBC customers too.
How to get started with net metering
No matter which utility you’re with, the process looks like this:
- We review your past electricity use to size a system that fits your goals and your utility’s net metering rules.
- We submit the net metering application to your utility as part of interconnection.
- Your solar system is installed and inspected.
- Once approved, your meter begins tracking inflow/outflow and credits are applied automatically.
At Solos Energy, net metering isn’t something you have to figure out on your own. Once you sign on with us, we handle the entire net metering and utility interconnection process on your behalf. Our in-house project management team coordinates your installation from start to finish — including the utility application, required documentation, inspection scheduling, and final permission to operate. You get a smooth, guided solar experience, and your system is connected under the right program automatically.
Want to see what net metering could save you?
Net metering is one of the best reasons to go solar in BC — and it’s already built into how we design every system.
If you want a clear estimate of:
- system size for your home,
- expected annual production,
- bill offset through net metering,
- payback period
Reach out to Solos Energy for a free quote.
